Faces that hold key to Kenya’s future
The fate of the country appeared to lie with the ‘Big Six’ picked by bitter rivals PNU and ODM to sit around former UN chief Kofi Annan’s mediation table. On Wednesday night, the Party of National Unity (PNU) side that hinges around Justice minister, Ms Martha Karua, Education minister, Prof Sam Ongeri, and Mbooni MP, Mr Mutula Kilonzo, were understood to be still studying the Annan talks framework and terms of reference. It was yet to complete its report. However, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) side, led by Pentagon members, Mr Musalia Mudavadi and Mr William Ruto, and MP, Dr Sally Kosgei, are said to have concluded and submitted their report to the Annan team.
The Standard reliably learnt that four items top the agenda to be tabled in the Annan mediated talks between President Kibaki and Mr Raila Odinga. They include immediate action to stop violence and restore fundamental rights and liberties.
Talks will also centre on measures to be taken to address the unfolding humanitarian crisis and promotion of reconciliation and healing.
Discussions on the political crisis would include power sharing, constitutional review and reform of the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK).
But with a political settlement for the disputed December 27 presidential election still far off the radar and with a breakdown of law and order threatening the very fabric of the nation, police issued a shoot-to-kill order.
Already, the Government has partially involved the military in restoring order in spots perceived as highly volatile as the crisis that has claimed more than 800 lives and displaced at least half a million continued to spiral out of control.
On Tuesday, military helicopters swooped on marauding gangs in Naivasha, which witnessed perhaps the worst flare after Nakuru at the weekend.
The shoot-to-kill order outlined the categories of law-breakers the police will target.
“There are four categories of people who will face tough police action: Those looting property, burning houses, carrying offensive weapons and barricading roads,” AFP quoted a commander of police, who sought anonymity, as saying.
The officer added: “We have orders to shoot to kill these categories of people if they are caught in the act.”
On Wednesday night, Commissioner of Police, Maj-Gen Hussein Ali, said police were now under instructions to “enforce the full force of the law”.
“Any person found engaging in these crimes (as categorised above) must be prepared to face the full force of the law. Police will take robust action at all times to protect the lives and property of Kenyans in accordance with the law,” the top cop said in a statement.
The order was conveyed to all police commanders a day after Annan launched crisis talks between President Kibaki and Raila.
The shoot-to-kill order followed an announcement by President Kibaki that officers would “firmly” deal with criminals who destroy property or breach the peace.
Earlier, Raila had expressed concern over what he described as an unofficial shoot-to-kill order being “applied selectively”.
“There is a shoot-to-kill order which is being selectively applied in parts of the country friendly to ODM,” the Lang’ata MP said. “Illegal gangs are enjoying the backing of police in Kibera and perpetrating violence.”
Marauding militia gangs
The last 24-hours saw post-election crisis intensify in some areas, with at least 15 people killed and thousands evicted as an uneasy calm returned to some of the worst hit towns.
Kibera remained a boiling point, with at least 10 people killed in the past two days by militias, who took over parts of the slum.
The main highway to western Kenya remained unsafe, with armed gangs taking over sections of it.
Internal Security minister, Prof George Saitoti, gave an assurance that police would intensify highway patrols and provide armed escort to convoys heading to Uganda.
But even as Saitoti spoke, Kikuyu township exploded into violence as marauding militias evicted members of some communities, blockaded roads using boulders, lit bonfires and robbed motorists at will.
Police responded using batons and teargas.
“We have decided to act tough on those manning extortionist roadblocks. We have put in place measures to make sure our roads and those that link us to Uganda and other countries are cleared of any interference,” Saitoti said.
Adding to Saitoti’s voice was Defence Permanent Secretary, Mr Zachary Mwaura, who said the military would continue operating within the law under their mandate according to the Military Act.
Mwaura said the Government had made arrangements to provide military escort to trucks and trains carrying goods.
But there was no sign of security at Kikuyu, where most of those evicted from tea plantations near Limuru headed into local police stations with their belongings.
At least 6,000 evictees, including women and children, jammed the Tigoni Police Station where others have been sleeping in the cold under freezing temperatures in one of the most chilly highlands.
Nakuru District remained volatile as three more people, including a child, were killed and scores others injured in a night-long orgy of violence that hit villages in Njoro.
Following the attack, hundreds fled their homes, with a large group camping at Egerton University Njoro Campus.
In Juja, one person was shot dead at Gachororo as police battled youths evicting non-indigenous residents.
Police had to intervene on Monday night when raiders stormed homes of people from other communities and shot a youth dead.
In Nandi North District, a man was killed and a police vehicle set on fire after security personnel confronted a mob that was set to invade Kaiboi Technical Institute on Monday night.
A deputy OCPD was held hostage for more than 36 hours by angry youths who barricaded the college at 8pm, claiming the students were members of an outlawed sect.
Meanwhile, the crisis of the displaced kept rising, with some refugee camps stretched dangerously. A major crisis loomed in two camps hosting more than 8,000 people in Naivasha after three days of chaos.
At the Naivasha GK Prison, where more than 5,000 victims were camping, there were no washrooms or clean water yet more kept streaming in.
East African Standard
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